The
Galago Publishing Companyopened
its doors in Alberton, South Africa, in 1980 under the partnership of Peter
Stiff, the
author, and Francis Lategan (now Stiff), the artist and author. Its
decided policy was to publish high quality general books of southern
African interest and its slogan: ‘The home of South Africa’s best
selling books’ appeared proudly on its window.

The Rhodesian Bush War had just ended, but only a few
books had appeared in the shops dealing with the subject. Selous
Scouts: Top Secret War by Lt
Col Ron Reid Daly as told to Peter
Stiff was the first major title to appear and it
established a publishing record, selling some 35 000 hardbacks and 70
000 paperbacks in about two years. This was closely followed by many
others. It is true to say that little of the history of the Rhodesian
bush war would have been published if it had not been for Galago.

In the mid 1980s attention was turned to political
and military subjects closer to home in South Africa, publishing Colonel
Jan Breytenbach’sThey Live by the Sword, Peter
Stiff’s Nine Days of War and many others.